Ryan "Higgs" H.'s Profile

I couldn't bring myself to order a grilled cheese as my entree at a seafood restaurant, even though it was so frequently written up on here - and looked amazing on other tables. But I was by myself, and couldn't justify 3 dishes... so I passed.

Instead, I went out on a limb and got the special for the day - a gumbo. Tons of shellfish (Hog Island oysters, Penn Cove mussels, manila clams, roasted chicken, and linguica sausage... all in a rich stock with just enough heat to do the gumbo proud). I paired it with a salad of little gem (kind of a butter lettuce-meets-romaine), fuji apple ribbons, toasted marcona almonds, and navel orange supremes - all tossed with a champagne vinaigrette and topped with grated ricotta salata. It was a perfect pair - sweet and nutty and cold, with spicy and rich and warm. The crusty bread rolls were local and were a perfect accompaniment.
Naturally, I kicked it all off with some wine - their bottle list was great, but I had a hard time picking one I really wanted that was available by the glass.

The atmosphere was great - I sat on the deck, overlooking the Bay Bridge.
The service was very good - consistently friendly and attentive, but not aggressive.
The menu was short, but definitely gave me exactly what I wanted for a leisurely Sunday lunch.

Wow.
Now... this is not a fancy, high-end sandwich establishment - not by any stretch of the imagination. In fact, I enjoy imagining the looks on my friends' faces, if they saw me duck into this tiny street-front in the Tenderloin... However, I was really hungry and this was such an outstanding, delicious surprise, I almost couldn't get this food into my mouth fast enough. I consider it a must-try for anyone who wants a bit of an indulgent street-food alternative lunch. I opted for the popular "surf and turf" - half a French Dip-esque sandwich and half a lobster roll of sorts.

As the sandwiches were prepared in a matter of seconds, deli-style, I was not prepared for the simple glory of each bite. The prime rib was sliced thinly and big sparsely seasoned. But before I could object, the friendly woman behind the counter gave it a little smear of a horseradish cream, which paired really well with the au jus. The lobster also had a dipper of clarified butter that was infused with - I'm pretty sure - dill. Maybe it was crack. I couldn't get enough. Big chunks of lobster meat that were well-cooked and well-seasoned... yum.

Both sandwiches were served on this slightly crusty, buttery french-style bread that picked up the au jus/butter well - but held its crunch.

The mac and cheese side was okay. But it was a little cold, and paled in comparison to the sandwiches. The idea of not having access to this place on a regular basis is both a blessing and a curse. But next time I am in town, I will for sure be back!

Kind of amazing in a dirty-gritty-loud-dive-bar kind of way. Something tells me this bar (and a member or two of its staff) has been exactly the same for the past 60 years. With much more concern for good service and delicious comfort foods (at perfectly comfortable prices!) than for updated decor and furnishings, this place is perfect for a cozy night of bellying up at the bar, having a kick-ass pulled pork sandwich and a few frosties, and just soaking in the charm of the Windy Ciity. It may not win any awards, but its a few blocks down from my favorite Chi-town hotel and will thus command many repeat visits, I am sure.

This is how brunch should be done.  Having spent a few years in the industry myself, I know: no one wants to work brunch.  It sucks.  Anyone who has ever done it, knows... and likely expects a little less of any server who greets you before noon.  But these guys were on their game.  Brunch moves fast... and I did have to wait an extra minute or two for my order to be taken... but that's because I walked in within 2 or 3 minutes of 4 other tables.  And 3 more walked in before my juice came.  Insanity!  But I quickly figured out why.

The menu was really beautifully crafted, and I wasn't sure I could pick just which dish would ultimately be the most satisfying.  Sweet?  Savory?  Something baked? fried? cold?  Tough call.  

I went with the scotch egg - one of my new favorite outrageous indulgences.  a soft-boiled egg, wrapped in sausage meat, breaded and deep-fried. Cholesterol, what?  Oh well.  This particular egg was served atop a small sage-scented waffle with a bit of raspberry coulis and some diced apple and frisee.  I hate frisee,  But the sweet/tart coulis paired well with the savory waffle and the salty egg/sausage.  They were out of the side I ordered, but the server cheerfully recommended the crisped pork belly.  Pork belly is hit or miss with me, but I took a shot.  And this hit was a bullseye.  Enough meat to give them fatty bits some structure... A great texture and balance not always easy to achieve with belly meat.

There was no amuse, which is fine (it's not required, obviously) but so many other reviews referenced it, so I had been looking forward to some little sweet bite to start off.  Oh well... no other table nearby seemed to receive one, so I know I wasn't just left out.

The fresh-squeezed OJ topped it off nicely, and I never came close to running out of water - the back-server was really attentive.  I did have a couple of minutes to kill before receiving the check at the end, but again, I gave them the benefit of the doubt since they were so busy.  Plus, it was a great chance to just watch the VERY open kitchen (open on two sides, with just a half-wall separating it from the dining room.  I love an open kitchen, so I was happily entertained while I waited.  Well-priced, a great value... this place must have a crazy cult following on the weekends.  I showed up just before 9 and it was packed by 9:05.

On that note... I want to address a couple of other reviews here.  1 star, because you had to wait for a table?  Right.  If you go to a busy, popular spot, that only has about a dozen tables... expect that those for 4 are for 4.  Those for 2 are for 2.  It's the way the world works.  If you can't handle basic restaurant rules, make your own breakfast.  Rant over.

Ok.  Thank GOD I don't live near here... I would be in trouble, right quick.
With some serious urging from two industry friends (one of whom worked here, a few years ago), I finally made my way in to see what the fuss was all about.  Every single word of it is warranted!

Friday night, late night (we rolled up in there around 11) and it was crazy busy.  Super high ceilings made acoustics a little tricky, but I didn't feel crowded or overwhelmed; the low lighting helped make the big space feel intimate, and the music selection was pretty chill (an obscure Atmosphere song came on, and I was both shocked and psyched).  The server was one I'd have hired in a heartbeat back in the day.  She was comfortable, casual, knowledgeable, attentive, and communicative.  She offered suggestions when we needed them, and added commentary to our ideas and selections.  I liked her and probably would have invited her to hang out with us to have a drink and chat under different circumstances.  (you know, if she wasn't working and all...)  It even turned out that we had a connection through a restaurant back home in Boston.

Let's talk food...
We started with some incredibly creamy and outrageously delicious pate.  Delightful little accoutrements dotted the plate, including some kind of spiced apple spread, as well as the requisite whole grain mustard and cornichons.  Paired beautifully with a glass of rich sweet pink bubbles, thankyouverymuch.  

Our entrees took a couple extra minutes, but the server communicated with us while they dragged, and I understood, given how busy the place was at the end of what I can only assume was an insanely busy night.  The kitchen must have been run ragged.  But that did not hamper their ability to produce the most fantastic duck I have ever had.  Cooked perfectly medium-rare, with a nice crisp on the outside of the breast, I imagine eating myself into oblivion (goldfish-style) if an unlimited supply of this incredible dish existed.  The meat was tender, perfectly seasoned, and served with a healthy side of baby brussel sprouts cooked with bacon.  That's right.  I am not sure I could have designed a more perfect dish for my tastes - or imagined enjoying it as much as I did.  The sprouts were cooked down tender, nicely caramelized, and pan-charred just perfectly to give them a little texture.  The chunks of thick bacon were a great foil to the earthy sprouts.  I ate every.single.bite.  I'd be remiss to not mention that the server's paired pinot noir suggestion was spot-on.

Dessert (of course).  How do you even begin to narrow down the options when you are at a place called Hot Chocolate, and the chef/owner is well known across the country for her prowess - especially in the dessert arena?  We opted to share (wait, wait... don't judge me yet) a banana-coffee-toffee concoction that involved a miniature banana toffee cream pie, some caramelized bananas and a piece of coffee cake, lightly griddled, and filled with some kind of custard that broke it up beautifully.  Naturally, we each paired our shared dessert with a cup of the signature hot chocolates.  Mexican (uses cayenne!) and half-and-half (espresso/hot chocolate).  

I almost had to be ROLLED out of the restaurant and back to the house.  The prices were a little on the steep side, but it was to be expected.  I wouldn't blink before recommending this place to someone else - or going again myself!  In fact, I already intend to plan a return trip - for at least a wine and cheese night, if not another full multiple-course extravaganza.

Let me start off by saying, I will definitely come back here.
The food was tasty, the service was great, the ambiance was nice... but I didn't have a chance to really develop a feeling for what the place was all about.

The bartender knew my friend, and came over to say hi.  But then we realized the menu was not up to date (major sin in my eyes).  The beer I wanted was no longer on tap.  Oh well, I took another and moved on.  We started with some potato skins poutine, which were done pretty well.  i was looking forward to my entree.  The only veggie option on the menu, it stuck out and sounded delicious to me... so I went for it.  Veggie strudel - crispy layers of flaky pastry with layers of veggies and cheese.  It was tasty, but the best thing about it was definitely the carrot sauce surrounding it on the plate.  It all seemed a little on the store-bought-heated-up side.  Though I'm sure it wasn't, since the whole place had a pretty independent, home-grown vibe to it.  

I always have dessert when I am traveling, and this stop was no exception.  The PB&J was a tasty frangelico & peanut butter ice cream layer, with some house-made strawberry preserves, sandwiched between vanilla pound sponge cake, quickly griddled to give the cake a little toasty bread-like texture.  Again, well executed overall, but things with peanut butter tend to be signature desserts, and this one was not entirely memorable (as I was describing it, I had to look at the menu online to make sure I was doing so correctly).  Again, tasty but just not terribly authentic or exciting.  

Something tells me that, given their kitchen hours and the overall flavor profile I picked up, they'd be amazing for someone with the late-night munchies.  The server was really cool, and brought a lot to the experience.  She was quick and responsive up-front, and then left us alone enough to enjoy conversation.  A good combo of laid-back and enthusiastic about our being there... until she started clearing candles and such from the adjacent tables, a half hour before the kitchen closed (and just before we got our entrees).  At that point, we mostly lost her to the beast that is side work, and I never had a chance to talk about the overall menu concept.  

Oh well, I may have built it up to being akin to one of my hometown faves: The Franklin Cafe (Boston)... which only leaves room for disappointment.  But, as I said, I'll be back to try it again, and see if fresh eyes and a different appetite might have an impact on the experience.  In truth, I had been in Napa all day, tasting wine... so I was in a different mindset than I usually am.

The perfect location for something small and easy, during a day of tasting new and exciting wines.  I snagged a tasty sandwich between wine tastings.  The ingredients were all there, fresh, and well-assembled, but it just didn't knock my socks off.  And, given the vast array of high-end foodie accoutrements stocking the shelves, I really hoped they were producing house-made things as exciting as the condiments they were selling... just a little short, unfortunately.  But, given the picnic tables out back, looking out over the adjacent vineyard, it was a great little spot to stop on a sunny day in wine country.

It didn't knock my socks off, but I'd definitely stop back in and try something new.  Or maybe even check out more of their suggested wines and cookbooks - all with ties back to Napa and Sonoma.

I have not come to San Francisco once without making sure at least one early morning breakfast was spent looking out over the coast and cliffs  astride Ocean Beach.  This diner, family-owned and operated since 1937 puts together food that is so delicious and homemade tasting that it actually manages to distract (just a bit) from the view.

Pancakes, omelettes, french toast, fried eggs, coffee, pie... it's all as you'd expect at the diner of your dreams.  The service is fast and west-coast-friendly with just a little bit of east-coast-sass.  

Sadly, they are closing down for a couple of months (at the end of November) for some major renovations.  I'm crushed... Without a major miracle, on my next trip here, I'm going to have to find somewhere new to crunch through slabs of yummy bacon and watch the waves crash below.

Even from across the country, I'll miss this place while it's closed, and look forward to seeing it reopen in the spring.  It's a delight here, and hope it keeps its old-school feeling of warmth and welcoming when it comes back.

This was not my first time at 2223, but after a rushed visit the first time - which still provided a positive (if a bit of a whirlwind) experience - I needed to go back and see if it was everything I had made it out to be in my head.  In fact, it was better.

My flight in to SFO landed at 9, and I had to make it downtown to my reservation before the kitchen closed at 10:30... not an easy task.  And I really didn't want to be "that guy" who keeps the staff there working late, and comes in and orders 3 courses (of course I did).  So I called ahead to make sure they wouldn't hate me, and the girl who answered the phone was wonderful.  I felt like they were as excited to see me as I was to see them.  The fates (BART, traffic, and walk signals) smiled on me, and I made it in around 10:15.

I saw a tasty-sounding Hendricks-based drink on the menu, and inquired as to its level of sweetness (Cointreau made me nervous).  I was told, in no uncertain terms, that that wasn't the drink for me - and the suggestion was made to try the Limon something... which was a gin base, lemon juice, some other delicious things, and a little heat from some chili powder or other red spice that was really delicious.  I LOVE a server who can stand behind his/her conviction, even if it's not a positive one.  It makes me really feel confident in the positive suggestions.  If this server could say "don't get that drink... i'd suggest this one" - I am totally going to believe her when she says "these are the two best desserts," and I'll order them both.  

Appetizer: we started with a delightful tomato bruschetta.  sounds boring, but the goat cheese, the fresh herbs, the local tomatoes... all sounded like the perfect first bite.  It worked, and I'd have inhaled the entire plate if I wasn't so eagerly awaiting the impending protein.

Entree: I wanted a steak, and a steak I got.  A wood-grilled flat iron, cooked perfectly medium-rare, as requested.  Plated with a house-made slaw, a soft papusa (Spanish flatbread) filled with a mild cheese, and a side of jalapeno black beans; I was in heaven.  The steak stayed center stage, even with all the other bold flavors on the plate.  Everything else worked as successful complements.  I cleaned my entire plate, and was perfectly satisfied.

Dessert: chocolate bourbon pie.  Do I even need to describe it?  I'd order it every night, if someone from the 2223 kitchen would follow me around to make it.

Service was spot-on. The back-servers were on their game, the bussers were on their game.  Everything came out at a speedy (efficient, not pushy) pace.  The server who, when I told her I wasn't done as she reached for my completely empty plate, reflexively recoiled and thought about it for a second before explaining 20 years as a server, she knew better than to take any plate away from a guest who was not finished. She had personality, charm, and a great tableside manner. As for the food... Perfect serving sizes, amazing flavor profile within each dish, and a great local, fresh, season, farm-to-table menu.  Tasty drinks, decent wines.  If you're in San Francisco, be bold and check them out.  If you're not, plan a trip here, and include 2223 in your itinerary.

On my last day in Chicago, I had a craving for a big, juicy burger.  It's the midwest: there are a million steakhouses.  But I wanted something a little more obscure, and I wanted to check out the Wicker Park neighborhood... so I did a little Yelp-research, and found Bin Wine Cafe.  While it turned out their menus online were all completely out of date (selections, prices - all different), I was just as excited about the ones on the page before me when I sat down.  And people had raved about the burger... sold.

Sadly, they were out of the lamb that my dining partner in crime had been lusting after, so he grabbed a burger, too.  Mine: sauteed mushrooms (they were a variety of wild mushrooms - not a button in sight), no cheese.  His: cheddar (from the impressive cheese menu) and bacon.  They were cooked PERFECTLY, and felt every ounce of their 1/2 pound-ness.  The fries were perfect, too, and we both left comfortably full.  Of course, we tried the daily spread bruschetti, as well.  3 kinds were served: crab & cream cheese, house-made red pepper hummus, and a late-summer veggie medley with shaved parm.  

Terrific wine flights were available, and the selections had all been carefully chosen, arranged, and paired on the menu.  Thoughtful and creative, for sure.  

Service was good, too... and while our server was a little quirky, he had a great handle on some of the more unusual ingredients.  His explanation of the lesser-known items on the Wed/Thurs farm-to-table 3-course prix-fixe was spot on and almost just as I'd have given them back in my long-lost serving days.  Kohlrabi (similar to the meaty, bitter broccoli stems), harissa (a smokey north-African sauce with cumin and coriander) and a quick list of the specials and 86s.  He was a little skittish, and distracted, but he was on his game for the most part, so we were happy.  The back-server seemed to be horrified at the thought of us even nearing the bottom of our water glasses, so we remained well-hydrated all night.

Definitely worth checking out.  And, if it's open, try to snag one of the 3-4 tables on the patio: the people-watching is fantastic.